New Signings: Swedish House Mafia, Eurovision, ie:music & more

It was a busy seven days for new signings and team-ups in the music business. Here are eight you need to know about.

1. Sony Music Entertainment Australia will now handle all Swedish House Mafia releases in Australia after the act signed overseas with the Columbia Records imprint.

Columbia grabbed SHM after a bidding war with Universal Music Group’s Republic Records.

2. SBS, along with production partner Blink TV, have secured Australia’s participation in Eurovision for a further five years, until 2023.

Australia has been part of the comp for five years but only at the invitation each year of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Australians’ accumulated viewing of the show’s semi-finals and grand final reaches 4 million.

3. Melbourne’s Clowns, who are label-repped in Australia by Damaged Records, get global distribution through US punk label Wreck Chords.

Their fourth album Nature/Nature is out in April – and those who pre-order can buy a bottle of their own hot sauce May I Be Extinguished?.

4. UK-based global management company ie:music, which has an office in Sydney, added Neck Deep and As It Is to its roster, which includes Robbie Williams and Passenger.

The artists will be represented by Leander Gloversmith, who joins ie:music with a track record including management for Lower than Atlantis and Architects. Gloversmith’s latest band, emerging metal act Frost Koffin, also join ie:music.

5. Manchester UK band 1975 extended their record deal with Dirty Hit for a further three albums.

Dirty Hit also has Wolf Alice, Pale Waves and The Japanese House.

6. Facebook Australia has launched a new campaign and major partnership with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Share Your #FearlessStories allows people to express themselves and celebrate their communities.

7. Leading DJ music source Beatport and subscription-based digital DJ record pool DJcity have partnered for a new company Beatsource, “a new digital music retail experience for open-format DJs.”

Due to launch mid-2019, it offers DJs access to a wide catalogue of hits and pre-release exclusive content.

8. Texas guitar accessory company Kyser Musical Products will have its products available in Australia.

They’ve struck a distribution deal with CMC Music from March 1.